Container with sealing cover



g- 1, 1967 R. v. BURDICK, JR 3,333,728

CONTAINER WITH SEALING COVER Filed June 4, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet lINVENTOR 241 PH 1/. 5020/6441'8.

ATTORNEYS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 9 a z 4 9 I M 3 f A Rm. .fw I O m E m" M g HH" I w ,o l I] mm 7 o m m m M b (Y m u maww F n H a w 6 6" 5 5 I; II! Ia v :1: I l I 1-1.1. n I] 0 a 5 J Aug. 1, 1967 R. v. BURDICK, JR

CONTAINER WITH SEALING COVER Filed June 1965 United States Patent3,333,728 CONTAINER WITH SEALING COVER Ralph V. Bun-dick, Jr., ColonialGreen, Loudonville, N.Y. 12211 Filed June 2, 1965, Ser. No. 460,741 6Claims. (Cl. 220-60) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A container comprising abottom portion and a hermetically scalable cover portion therefor inwhich the bottom portion includes an upwardly extending circular sidewall, a curl formed on the top peripheral edge of the side wall, anoutwardly and upwardly directed ledge forming an acute angle with theside wall provided thereon and an outwardly directed bead formed on theside wall intermediate the curl and the ledge, and a cover portionhaving a depending skirt, a circular top, an upwardly directed beadbetween the skirt and the top adapted to receive the curl therein and aninwardly directed bead formed on the skirt adapted to embrace theoutwardly directed bead at the lower edge thereof and the cover beingslidable upon a portion of the inwardly directed bean being drawnupwardly over said outwardly directed bead so that a portion of thelower edge of the skirt can be received within the angle between theledge and the side wall.

This invention is described in terms of a container for packaging paintsfor simplicity of description, however, it should be recognized that theparticular description is not limiting and the container describedherein can be used for packaging any product which could normally bepackaged within a metallic container. The invention, of course, isparticularly useful where semi-solids are involved.

Containers which are used for packaging paints and other volatilematerials must be designed to maintain a substantially air-tight fitbetween the cover and the container portion. The cover is generallydesigned to provide with the periphery of a bead of the bottom a sealingfit. The fact that such airtight engagement between cover and bottomportion to obtain a substantially hermetic seal is required often makesit difiicult and inconvenient to remove the cover from the box. Theinwardly directed flange of the bottom occupies space making itdifficult to remove the contents from the container and results,particularly when paint is involved, with materials adhering to the topof the container. Thus, it is diflicult to consume all of the paintwithin the container and also it is difficult to clean the top of thecontainer whereat the seal is eifected.

This invention has as its principal object the provision of a containerfor packaging volatile materials, such as paint, wherein an airtightfriction fit is insured between the cover and the zone of the bottomadjacent the cover.

It is another object of the invention to provide such a sealing fit inwhich the sealing zone does not obstruct access to the interior of thebottom of the container and which does not result in the materials ofthe container adhering to the portions of the bottom which provide thesealing fit.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide such acontainer which can be readily opened by the user without undue effortand without special tools and which can be readily closed in the samemanner.

In addition to the objects set forth above, a further principal objectof this invention is to provide such a container which possessesfeatures, properties and relation of elements which will accomplish theobjects for which the container is designed in such a manner that theexternal surfaces of the container will remain substantially free at alltimes of the contents of the box.

A container with sealing cover embodying the invention and the manner ofusing the same is described herein with references to the drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a container with sealing coverconstructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the container shown in FIG. 1 with aportion of the cover cut away;

FIG. 3 is a partially sectional view taken along the line 33 in thedirection of the arrows as indicated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of the container with a gasketapplied for additional sealing;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view of a container embodying analternate form of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary elevational view of an alternate embodiment ofthe invention;

FIG. 7 is an elevational view, partly broken, of another form of theinvention;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to that of FIG. 7, but of the side of thecontainer not seen in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the container shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a partially sectional view taken along the line 1010 in thedirection of the arrows as indicated in FIG. 8; and

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary elevational view of the container shown in FIG.7.

One form of container constructed in accordance with this invention isshown in FIGS. 1-3 wherein bottom 10 of the container 11 has a cover 12applied thereto in sealing engagement. The bottom includes a cylindricalside wall 13 and lower circular surface 14. The uppermost edge of sidewall 13 is terminated in an outwardly expanded, trolled-over curl 15around which proper seal is effected by engagement with cover 12 as willbe described below.

The bottom is also provided with an outwardly and upwardly directedperipheral ledge or flattened bead which provides, with cylindricalrecess or undercut portion 17, an upwardly facing channel spaced fromcurl 15 the height of cylindrical recessed portion 17. The recessedportion 17 is provided with a diameter slightly less than the diameterof the remaining part of the cylindrical bottom for a purpose which willbe explained below.

The cover 12 which is circular is provided with a depressed centralportion 18 and a downwardly directed skirt 19 joined thereto by upwardlydirected bead 20 having a radius such that curl 15 can be receivedtherein in the assembled condition of the container. The peripheral edgeof skirt 19 is curled upwardly and inwardly as indicated in the figuresby the numeral 21. An inwardly directed bead 22 is provided in skirt 19between bead 20 and edge 21. This inwardly directed bead 22 provides acircular ring which can be referred to as a lock ring. Lock ring 22 inthe assembled condition of the container engages the bottom side wall atthe break between curl 15 and recessed wall 17 beneath the curl 15providing an annular seal which is indicated in the figures by thenumeral 23. The positioning of lock ring 22 beneath curl 15 provides aforce in the assembled condition of the container in the direction ofthe arrow indicated by the letter A in FIG. 3 which is downwardly andinwardly, tending to maintain the lock ring beneath curl 15 and thecover in position on the bottom.

The container is formed of a resilient material, preferably sheet metal,and in the assembled condition, addi- 3 tional seals 24 and 25 areformed at points of engagement of curl and bead 20.

In closing, the cover is snapped on with the skirt 19 allowing lock ring21 to momentarily undergo an increase in diameter as it is forceddownwardly and over curl 15 until it is beneath curl 15 and can returnto its normal diameter whereat it is engaging the break between the curl15 and recessed portion 17.

In opening this container, the top is pried off by the insertion of astiff object beneath curl 21 and ledge 16. Upon the insertion of such anobject, not shown in the figures, the skirt 19 of the cover is priedupwardly and outwardly with the portion of the skirt and the lock ringwhich is above the object being used to open the container, movingoutwardly and as the cover above the object doing the opening is movedoutwardly the opposite side of the cover is allowed to slip with thelock ring moving into the recessed portion 17 until the lock ring abovethe opening object passes upwardly over the curl 15 in order to breakthe seal.

Such a container provides rescaling upon placement of the cover on thebottom of the same degree as the original seal. Thus, the container canbe used continually with the same degree of sealing being achieved eachtime the cover is replaced.

The container is of two-piece constructiona bottom and a top-and theopening provided by the diameter of the innermost edge of curl 15 allowsthe opening in the bottom to be substantially of the diameter of thebottom itself. There are no channels or grooves on the exterior or topof the bottom of the container for paint to cling to thereby a cleanerpackage is presented and continual use will not result in a diminishedseal or a container with the contents thereof caked on the top of thecontainer bottom. It is noted that the edge of the bottom at curl 15 isrolled over and butted against the curl to protect the raw edge fromundesirable chemical action with the ingredients of the container or thefumes thereof.

In FIG. 4 a modified form of the invention is shown wherein the cover 12is identical to the cover previously described in connection with theembodiment of FIGS. l-3, having a depressed circular portion 18', a bead20, skirt 19', lock ring 22, and curled edge 21'. The bottom isidentical to the bottom of FIGS. 1-3 and indicated in FIG. 4 by thenumeral 13'. The bottom is provided with ledge 16, recessed portion'17and peripheral curl 15. In the embodiment of FIG. 4, however, a gasket26 is provided between the uppermost portion of curl 15' and the base ofbead 20'. The gasket 26 is at all times under a continuous pressure inview of the tendency of the skirt to pull in the direction of the arrowB with the lock ring 22 in the break between curl 15' and recessedportion 17'. The closing and opening of the container disclosed in FIG.4 is identical with that of the container disclosed in FIGS. 1-3 and thegasket which is annular can be bonded to the cover at the base of bead20 or bonded to the bottom at the top of curl 15'. The downward pressurecauses the gasket to adapt to the shape of the base of bead 20' and thetop surface of curl 15. This provides, in addition to the three seals23', 24' and 25', the additional sealing of the gasket.

In the embodiment of the container shown in FIG. 5, the bottom 13" isidentical to the bottom 13 shown in FIGS. 1-3, having a curl 15", aledge 16" and recessed portion 17".

The cover 12" differs, however, in that although circular depression 18"and bead 20" are the same as in FIGS. 1-3, a lock rib 27' with a flathorizontal lower surface 28 and curled edge 29 is provided rather than askirt and a lock ring of the type previously described. The lock ribengages the bottom beneath curl 15" at the break between the curl 15"and the recessed portion 17" in the same zone as the lock ring 22engages the bottom in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3. The lock ribfunctions in a manner identical to the functioning of the lock ringpreviously described and the container of the embodiment of FIG. 5 isopened and closed in the same manner as the container described in theprevious embodiments. In addition, the structure of FIG. 5 providesthree sealing zones indicated by the numerals 23", 24" and 25".

In FIG. 6 a fragmentary view of :a container embodying an alternate formof the invention is shown in which the cover is identical to the covershown in FIG. 5. In FIG. 6 the cover is indicated by the numeral 30 andincludes a depression 31 which is a circular depression, bead 32, lockrib 33, and curled edge 34. The bottom 35, however, differs from thebottom shown in FIG. 5. The bottom of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 iscircular and provided with an outwardly and upwardly directed peripheralledge 36 extending from circular side wall 37 which provides withundercut portion 38 an upwardly facing channel 39 spaced from curlededge 40. The curled edge 40 is rolled outwardly in the embodiment ofFIG. 6 rather than inwardly, as seen. in the embodiments of FIGS. 4 and5 and the edge thereof also abuts the curl. With such a configurationthe raw edge of the curl is better protected than in the previousembodiment. In order to provide seals 41, 42 and 43 between the bottomand the cover, an outwardly directed bottom sealing bead 44 is providedbetween ledge 36 and curl 40, which outwardly directed sealing beadengages the cover enabling the cover to lock into position in the samemanner as provided by the break between curl 15 and recessed wall 17beneath the head in FIG. 3. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 the lowersurface of bead 44 is indicated by the numeral 45 and provides with lockring 33 the lock maintaining the cover in position on the bottom.

The cover is placed on the bottom in the embodiment of FIG. 6 andremoved therefrom in the same manner as the device is shown in theembodiment of FIGS. l-5.

In FIG. 7 another form of the invention is shown wherein the bottom isidentical to the bottom shown in FIG. 1. However, the cover is asnap-off type cover. The bottom includes a circular side wall 46,undercut portion 47, upwardly facing panel 48 formed by the undercutportion and the upwardly directed peripheral ledge 49 and inwardlydirected peripheral curl 50.

The top of cover 51 is provided with a circular peripheral edge 52 whichis an outwardly and upwardly directed bead joined to a second upwardlydirected bead 53 by downwardly directed bead 54 and adjacent ledge 55.Bead 53 borders a dished out central circular portion 56. The center ofcircular portion 56 is in a plane below its periphery as shown in thefigures. The peripheral bead 52 defines a circle having a diametergreater than the diameter of the circle defined by the curl 50 on thebottom. The cover has a peripheral skirt 57 which extendsdownwardly fromthe periphery of the top wall. The skirt portion 57 is cylindrical anddefines a circle having a diameter greater than the diameter of thecircle defined by the curl 50 on the botom. The cover has a peripheralskirt 57 which extends downwardly from the periphery of the top wall.The skirt portion 57 is cylindrical and it is contemplated that otherresilient materials can be used as well. Skirt 57 is provided with atleast one and preferably two portions that are cut out, that is, cutaway as at 60 and 61, the former being of greater magnitude than thelatter. In between such cut-out portions and opposite from each otherthe skirt terminates in two peripheral straight edge sections 62 and 63that are adapted to seat throughout their entire lengths against theledge 49 and within the channel 48 when the cover is placed in sealedengagement with the bottom or container por-' tion of the box. Thus, itwill appear that the larger cutout portion 60, which preferably isarcuate, has terminal ends which together with the adjacent terminalends of the straight edges form spaced-apart fulcrum points around whichto tilt the cover to unseat the same by pressure in the area of thecut-out portion 60.

While a smaller cut-out portion 61 is shown, it will be observed thatthe area of the cut-out portion is not sufiicient to provide functionalfulcrum supports or points where the arcuate portions terminate and jointhe straight edges opposite the fulcrum points adjacent cut-out 60. Suchpoints are not spaced inwardly or far enough apart to give such actionbut such cut-out portion relieves the tensioning of the skirt in thisarea whereby easier tilting or upsetting is accomplished by pressure inthe area of the cut-out 61; and this is so without sacrificing any ofthe sealing characteristics between the curl 50 and the straight skirt57. If it is desired, however, the cut-out portion 61 can be made largerso that fulcrum points are provided at its edges as well as the edges orend positions of the cut-out 60.

In use, when the cover is closed as shown in FIG. 7, and it is desiredto open it, pressure is applied above cut-out portions 60 on theperipheral bead 52 of the cover. As such pressure is provided the coverskirt slips over curl 50 beneath cut-out 60 and the opposite side of thecover, including cut-out portion 61, slips over the portion of the curlwith which it is associated as it passes upwardly until pressure isrelieved when the upper portion of cutout 61 rises above curl 50. As thecover is drawn from its initial closing position to an intermediatecondition of closing, the resiliency of the material from which thecover is formed allows the cover to change diameter as it is drawn overcurl 50.

Upon closing of the cover the resiliency of the material allows the beadportion 59 to expand outwardly whereby the skirt 57 embraces the curl 50in tight relationship.

Since in order to open the cover, pressure must be applied to theperipheral bead 52, in the absence of dished out portion 56, theresilient material from which the cover is formed would collapse. Inother words, the cover is dished out as at 56 in order to providestrengthening for opening.

Thus, among others, the several objects in the invention, asspecifically aforenoted, are achieved. Obviously, numerous changes inconstruction and rearrangement of parts might be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims.

I claim:

1. In a container of the character described, adapted for use incontaining volatile substances such as paint, which comprises a bottomcontainer portion, and a snapofl type of hermetically sealable coverportion therefor, said container portion including an upwardly extendingcircular side wall with a top curled edge and an outwardly extendingperipheral ledge intermediate said side wall, said cover portion havinga top circular surface with a peripheral bead of greater diameter thansaid curled edge, a downwardly extending circular skirt of said coverwith a circumference thereof having a decreased diameter sealingly tooverlie and embrace said curl, a downwardly directed portion of saidcover of constantly decreasing diameter joining said skirt, an inwardlydirected circumferential bead formed by the juncture of said downwardlydirected portion of said cover and said skirt, said circumferential beadbeing disposed above said curl when the cover is secured to said bottomcontainer portion, said skirt terminating in two oppositely disposedperipheral edge sections adapted to seat throughout their entire lengthsagainst said ledge, said sections being formed by an area of said skirtthat is cut out so as to provide a space between said skirt and saidledge when said cover portion is closed over said container portion,whereby downward pressure on said peripheral head above said cut-outwill unseat the same as the ends of said straight edge sections adjacentsaid cut-out are pivoted against said ledge, and said cover beingprovided with a central dished out portion.

2. A box in accordance with claim 4 in which the cover is formed of aresilient material whereby the diameter of the inwardly directed beadcan change as said inwardly directed head is drawn over said curl.

3. A container in accordance with claim 2 in which a recessed portion isprovided in said bottom portion beneath said curl above said ledge.

4. A container which comprises a bottom portion and a hermeticallysealable cover portion therefor: said bottom portion including anupwardly extending circular side wall, a curl formed on the topperipheral edge of said side wall, an outwardly and upwardly directedledge forming an acute angle with said side wall provided thereon and anoutwardly directed bead formed on said side wall intermediate said curland said ledge; said cover portion having a depending skirt, a circulartop, an upwardly directed bead between said skirt and said top adaptedto receive said curl therein and an inwardly di rected bead formed onsaid skirt adapted to embrace said outwardly directed bead'at the loweredge thereof; and said cover being slidable upon a portion of saidinwardly directed bead being drawn upwardly over said outwardly directedbead so that a portion of the lower edge of said skirt can be receivedwithin the angle between said ledge and said side wall.

5. A container in accordance with claim 4 in which a gasket is providedbetween the upper surface of said curl and the base of said upwardlydirected head.

6. A container in accordance with claim 4 in which said peripheral curlis in the form of the peripheral edge of said bottom portion beingfolded outwardly upon itself in an arc.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 649,979 5/1900 Danz 220422,403,030 7/ 1946 Solinsky 22042 2,977,019 6/1961 Henchert 220 3,186,5796/1965 Meyerhoefer 22043 THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner. G. T. HALL,Assistant Examiner,

1. IN A CONTAINER OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED, ADAPTED FOR USE INCONTAINING VOLATILE SUBSTANCES SUCH AS PAINT, WHICH COMPRISES A BOTTOMCONTAINER PORTION, AND A SNAPOFF TYPE OF HERMETICALLY SEALABLE COVERPORTION THEREFOR, SAID CONTAINER PORTION INCLUDING AN UPWARDLY EXTENDINGCIRCULAR SIDE WALL WITH A TOP CURLED EDGE AND AN OUTWARDLY EXTENDINGPERIPHERAL LEDGE INTERMEDIATE SAID SIDE WALL, SAID COVER PORTION HAVINGA TOP CIRCULAR SURFACE WITH A PERIPHERAL BEAD OF GREATER DIAMETER THANSAID CURLED EDGE, A DOWNWARDLY EXTENDING CIRCULAR SKIT OF SAID COVERWITH A CIRCUMFERENCE THEREOF HAVING A DECREASED DIAMETER SEALINGLY TOOVERLIE AND EMBRACE SAID CURL, A DOWNWARDLY DIRECTED PORTION OF SAIDCOVER OF CONSTANTLY DECREASING DIAMETER JOINING SAID SKIRT, AN INWARDLYDIRECTED CIRCUMFERENTIAL BEAD FORMED BY THE JUNCTURE OF SAID DOWNWARDLYDIRECTED PORTION OF SAID COVER SAND SAID SKIRT, SAID CIRCUMFERENTIALBEAD BEING DISPOSED ABOVE SAID CURL WHEN THE COVER IS SECURED TO SAIDBOTTOM CONTAINER PORTION, SAID SKIRT TERMINATING IN TWO OPPOSITELYDISPOSED PERIPHERAL EDGE SECTIONS ADAPTED TO SEAT THROUGHOUT THEIRENTIRE LENGTHS AGAINST SAID LEDGE, SAID SECTIONS BEING FORMED BY AN AREAOF SAID SKIRT THAT IS CUT OUT SO AS TO PROVIDE A SPACE BETWEEN SAIDSKIRT AND SAID LEDGE WHEN SAID COVER PORTION IS CLOSED OVER SAIDCONTAINER PORTION, WHEREBY DOWNWARD PRESSURE ON SAID PERIPHERAL BEADABOVE SAID CUT-OUT WILL UNSEAT THE SAME AS THE ENDS OF SAID STRAIGHTEDGE SECTIONS ADJACENT SAID CUT-OUT ARE PIVOTED AGAINST SAID LEDGE, ANDSAID COVER BEING PROVIDED WITH A CENTRAL DISHED OUT PORTION.